Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte insists “money is not everything.”
With speculation over the last few days regarding Diego Costa’s offer from China, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is reported to be holding talks with the Spanish international on Tuesday at the clubs training complex in Cobham.
It’s been dubbed “The China problem” by many, with Chinese clubs throwing money at almost anybody who will take it, notably with Oscar leaving Chelsea for Shanghai SIPG in a £60m deal and Carlos Tevez moving from Boca Juniors to Shanghai Shenhua on a reported £615,000 a week.
Costa was the reportedly offered £30m-per-yea from Tianjin Quanjian, but Antonio Conte believes the privilege of playing in the Premier League should come before 0’s on the end of any players wages.
“The money is not everything,” Conte said. “When you play for a great team like Chelsea, you must be pleased. This league is really competitive. I think that this league can attract every player because this league is the first in the world for a lot of positive things.
“For this reason, I repeat these offers from China are not a threat for our league. Money is not everything.
“I have to look at the past, also in my squad. Oscar played with us, had a good offer from China, he went and I can see that threat for my players.
“But I think we’re a great club and it’s a great honour to play for Chelsea and for this reason I don’t see a threat for my players.”
Pictures also have emerged of Diego Costa training by himself on Monday, with fans speculating the potential reasons as to why – some fans pointed out that the rest of the squad do not return to training until Tuesday, and Costa was simply eager to get back in training and improve his fitness in a bid to rejoin the squad for the Premier League leaders next fixture against Hull City, while others fear it may be an indication that things are not as simple as Conte wants us to believe.
